Signal damping camouflage system and manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

An electronic attenuation and camouflage device comprising a novel cooling device comprised of microspheres; an additional set of microspheres containing radar attenuating materials &lt;RAM&gt; capable of absorbing certain frequencies; and an additional set of microspheres containing electro-reactive substances enabling color change of a structure to match background, all comprising structures or being placed in a matrix; a structure; a machined part; a coating; or a series of matrices, structures, parts or coatings, which combined structures enable concealment of an object.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The instant application is a continuation application of now abandonedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/631,873, filed Dec. 21, 1990, whichis in turn a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 07/216,426, filed Jul. 8, 1988, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.5,163,504, entitled, "Container Warming and Cooling Device and NovelBuilding Material".

TECHNICAL FIELD

The instant and copending applications relate to the subject ofattenuation of signals through use of electronic coupling and yieldingmaterials, novel exothermic and/or exothermic conductive materials,and/or electronic camouflage systems. Combined systems enable i)reduction of designated electronic radar signals, IR, Lidar, and Sonarsignatures, and/or ii) an electronic camouflage system enabling thecolor of a structure to be changed to match its surrounding and/orbackground. Combined systems, when applied to a structure, are design toobscure the object from, e.g., visual, aural, and/or electronicdetection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is a continuation-in-part of a co-pending application entitled,Container Warming and Cooling Device and Novel Building Material. Inthat regard this continuation-in-part is more specifically related tothe aspect of the Novel Building Material, a novel substance moresuccinctly known henceforth as, "Electromagnetic ElectronicCountermeasure Attenuation Device and Manufacturing Method Thereof" towhich I have ascribed the nomenclature, "STEALTH RADEX", and concerningwhich combined substances I claim a Trade Mark.

A novelty of the instant invention comprises its ability to be used inthe manufacture of, the application to or on, existing structures, or tobe used as a composite in the manufacture of new structures orarchitectures. An additional feature of the instant device is itsutility as a means of providing for the attenuation or dampening ofspecific microwave or radar frequencies as an electromagnetic,electronic attenuation device over a broad band of the electronicspectrum, more specifically frequencies in the range 3,000 to 30,000Mega Hertz and more particularly, in the microwave frequency range of20,000 to 25,000 Mega Hertz. A further feature of the combined apparatusis the feature enabling simultaneous color change of the object uponwhich the combined substances are applied. For example, an aircraftflying in a "blue sky" background may take on the approximate color ofthe background in which the object (aircraft) is moving through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a cross-sectional view of a microsphere, 1, having ajacket or shell, 1A, made of polymer, and a core, 1B, comprised of MoS₂.

FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of the microspheres, 1, 1A and1B, together with microspheres, 2, having a shell made of monomer, 2A,and having a core, 2B, comprised of FeO₂ being suspended in a lattice,3, which are painted in a polymeric carrier substance, 4, e.g., paintonto an aircraft wing structure, 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Through the course of my experiments with microspheres, moreparticularly the fabrication methods related to creation of a ContainerTamper Detection Device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,911 incorporated herein byreference, I configured a number of different devices utilizingmicrospheres especially for utilization in particular modalities. Suchdevices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,911; and a bioremediation deviceknown as "WAPED", Ser. No. 07/390,363, filed Aug. 7, 1989, nowabandoned, incorporated herein by reference; and more recently theOriginal Application upon which this submission is based, whichapplication Ser. No. 07/216,426, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,504 is alsoincorporated herein by reference.

SPECIFICATION

The microcapsules I used in past experiments and devices were of thetype manufactured by KMS Industries, Ann Arbor, Mich., <now KMS Fusion,Inc.> and of the types based on the manufacturing methods of Wang,et.al, and of Kornfeld, et. al., all of which were described in theOriginal Application co-pending herewith, and which references are nowincluded herein as if by entirety.

Recently, I designed a method of making miniature bubbles, ormicrospheres, by fixing hypodermic syringes to a lab stand in annularand linear configurations, i.e., I configured a method enablingplacement of one hypodermic needle tip within another needle tip placingthese at angles in juxtaposition.

A first, outer syringe contained a UV light-cured material, a <monomer>biopolymer, such as LITE TAG 370 which is available from Loc-Tite Corp.of Newington, Conn.; or PART #4484 available from Electro-liteCorporation of Danbury, Conn. A second, inner syringe contained thesubstance to be encapsulated, such as molybdenum disulfide or RetynScheyth Salts, which are available from Aldrich Chemical Company ofMilwaukee, Wis., Custom Synthesis Group.

These syringes are of sufficient size and are configured so as to permitthe second syringe to be placed within the first, comprising a novelassembly, so that the nozzles are equidistant yet spaced far enoughapart so as to allow discharge of both materials simultaneously suchthat the material in the first syringe forms a shell (bubble) around thematerial in the second as it exits the orifice. After formation of abubble containing the encapsulated material, MoS₂ for example, I allowthe bubble to drop through a controlled airspace which is "flooded" withUV light of the required frequency and duration sufficient so as tocause liberation of the free radicals (monomer+photomultiplier) andsubsequently "cures" the material, monomer or biopolymers, resulting information of a "shell" or crust on the outermost portion of the combinedmaterials, now constituting in this configuration a novel buildingmaterial; and particularly the Electromagnetic Electronic CountermeasureAttenuation Device which is an aspect of the instant petition. Themethod of manufacture as stated above should be considered illustrativerather than limiting, as any number of encapsulation methodologies couldbe used, such as those referenced earlier in this writing and/or in myprior submissions which are included herein by reference.

Likewise, the method of manufacture described above should be consideredillustrative rather than limiting and in that regard easily accomplishedby persons of reasonable skill in the art when utilizing any number ofdifferent encapsulation technologies.

After such manufacture, it is then possible to place the new materialcomprising the invention into a suspension comprising another substance(paint), such as polyurethane <paint>, and to then apply the combinedsubstances, by an aerosol spray or some other such method, to theexterior of an existing structure, an automobile, for example, or othersuch vehicles as aircraft, seacraft, antennae, electronic equipmenthousings, etc. It is further possible to use this material as acomposite in forming new structures comprised of composite materials,e.g., antennae, containers for protecting frequency-sensativecomponents, etc., or entire vehicles, e.g., warships, submarines,aircraft or projectiles, etc.

Many obvious advantages are apparent with regard to having this newmaterial made available. For example the material could be applied as acoating to the external portions of existing devices, aircraft,seacraft, etc., should it be desired that coated equipment beundetectable via conventional electronic modalities. Such could preventloss of human life and hardware in combat situations, and could likewiseprove to be practical in other situations where the object of the userwould require unobserved entry to an area, or region, e.g., a combatzone, etc. which is usually protected by electronic surveilance devices,e.g., radar or sonar; or delivery of un-manned vehicles, e.g., rockets,into an area in a manner undetectable via conventional methods. Afurther use for a material of this nature could be application as an"insulation" barrier on the external portions of buildings: For example,this material could have been used to "protect" employees of the U.S.Department of State when the U.S. Embassy in Moscow USSR was beingbombarded by microwaves.

In 1859 Kirchaf & Bunsen demonstrated that wavelengths of various sizes,shifting from blue (short) to red (long) in the spectrum, could beabsorbed by various gasses and thus certain elements identified by meansof a device which they invented, a spectroscope. For the purpose of thisdiscussion the term, "wavelength", is synonymous to the term,"frequency", where high frequency equals a short wavelength and lowfrequency equals a long wavelength.

It has been well established in the literature that certain radiofrequencies comprise wavelengths, and that wavelengths comprise adistance measured in the direction of propogation of a wave between twopoints in the wave that are characterized by the same phase ofoscillation. A rather simplified, yet excellent description of thisphenomenon is described in the Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia #20,Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-170933, pps. 71-81.

Further, radio detection equipment, more specifically those operating inthe microwave frequencies, e.g., Doppler Radar, Lidar, etc., producelinear signals which are progressively curved. For a more thoroughexplanation of this phenomenon see, "American Standard Definitions ofElectrical Terms", published by the American Institute of ElectricalEngineers, 1941, Sections 05.05.440; 65.11.555; 65.11.570, and 05.05.440<attenuation>, and, 05.05.465 (a "damped" wave).

With such detection devices an oscillating frequency is produced whichhas a particular natural frequency. This frequency travels in thedirection of an object until it couples with a structure resulting inthe occurrence of the phenomenon of resonance, a "reflection"phenomenon. An example of this phenomenon can be illustrated when onedrops a stone into a pool of still water causing minute waves to eminateoutward from the point of interface with the stone and the water. If onewere to have placed an pole into the water, with a portion extendingabove the surface, one could easily understand how the phenomenon isvery similar to the way radio signals move through the air, with theexception that the radio waves are invisible.

With this example in mind it Is easy to understand that once thefundamental frequency couples with the object, resonance <"reflection">results and oscillations of relatively large amplitude are produced as adirect result of this coupling. These large amplitude signals arereflected back to a receiver generally located at or near the point ofgeneration of the fundamental frequency, which has been produced insequences, or spaces sufficient to allow coupling, resonance andoscillation feedback to occur.

With this knowledge in mind, I set about to configure a means and methodwhereby it would be possible to eliminate coupling of a fundamentalfrequency to an object or structure thereby eliminating resonance("reflection") making it possible to make it appear as though an objectdid not exist, and at very least the object would not provide feedback(oscillations) resonance to conventional electromagnetic sensingdevices.

Prior to reducing my invention to practice, it occurred to me that itmight be necessary to protect the elements I would be using as theyielding mechanism (absorber) from taking on too much electromagneticenergy or varying frequencies derived from various sources, e.g., thesun. I then determined that it might be desirable to be able tomanufacture microcapsules and then to coat the microcapsules withcertain reflective coatings which would prevent absorption of unwantedsignals, e.g., UV, etc. This coating of the microspheres is easilyaccomplished using any number of various processes, such as thosedeveloped by Pittsburgh Plate Glass Industries, American Saint GobainGlass, and Jeannette Glass Company, where the surface of the glass to becoated is "etched" providing sites where the coating, FeO₂, in thiscase, easily adheres. Other method of affixing reflective coatings couldalso be used, and these are considered to be easily accomplished bythose possessing reasonable skill in the art.

A further aspect of the instant invention is the ability to cause thestructure to which the material is applied to appear to "match" thebackground in which the object happens to be at any particular givenmoment. This is made possible by creating alternate microcapsules andfilling them with different electro-reactive substances, e.g., silveroxide, iron oxide, etc., substances which possess the ability to "changecolor", from light to dark, as a result of having voltages imparted uponthem. This technology is used in some buildings and automobiles, andeven some houses as a means of providing screening from the sun's rays.Although this technology has been around for some time, I know of no useof encapsulated materials being used in combination with thesephoto-reactive coatings/materials for the purposes I have disclosedabove in accomplishing a further aspect of the instant invention.

MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In reducing my invention to practice, I manufactured a quantity ofmicrocapsules approximately 70 um in size into which I placed powderedMoS₂, using the method described above (syringes, etc.). It should benoted, however that many different methods of manufacturing themicrocapsules could have been utilized, e.g., Wang's process, or aretrofit of Dale Kornfeld's Rotary Reactor, etc., or for that matter anyreference I may have previously submitted on PO Form 1029, and personsof reasonable skill in the art possess the requisite knowledge requiredto fabricate microspheres, now incorporated herein by reference.

In the Original Application related hereto <Ser. No. 07/216,426, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,163,504> I mentioned that certain substances, e.g.,MoS₂, possessed the ability to resonate at certain radio frequencies,laser frequencies. For example, I cited a particular substance which wasresonant to such frequencies; the compound molybdenum disulfide <MoS₂ >.Although in the instant device I teach use of MoS₂, use of this compoundshould be considered illustrative rather than limiting, as othersubstances possess the ability to absorb, couple and yield, or absorb,radio frequencies as well.

In my earlier studies I determined that MoS₂ possessed the ability tocouple with certain microwave frequencies in ranges from 1000 to 30,000MHz (and 1.0 to 2.0 gigahertz) and acted as a "yielding mechanism",possessing an energy absorptive property. This was made apparent when Iconducted certain experiments wherein I applied a coating ofmicrocapsules containing MoS₂, by means of a polymer paint to astructure. After such placement an oscillating frequency was impartedupon the moving structure coated with the building material containingencapsulated MoS₂. For the experiment I coated a length of aluminumtubing material, an aerial approximately 2 meters in length and 3 cm indiameter, and placed this device at a predetermined distance away from atransmitter/sensing device, a conventional, hand-held radar gun, such asthe "ROADRUNNER" model, a "K-Band" type radar device manufactured byKustom Electronics, Inc., Overland Park, Kans., and suspended same froma pivitol axis which was likewise coated with the material.

During my first experiment I noticed that the structure (antenna) andthe material coupling the radio frequencies (MoS₂) and the substancecontaining it (polymeric microspheres), actually became "hot" to thetouch after extended exposure to frequency/oscillations which were beingimparted <absorbed>. Elevation in temperature was observed duringminimal time durations of less than 0.50 milleseconds. Upon observingthis, it occurred to me that despite the fact that the experiment wassuccessful in terms of accomplishing the yielding/absorption phenomenon,it would further be necessary to provide a means whereby the unwantedheat which was being generated by the coupling/yielding and absorptionof the electromagnetic impulses could be moved away: This would assurethat the combined composite would not be "pulled away" or would not"flake off" the structures to which it was applied. The method ofremoving this unwanted and potentially dangerous "heat" was to utilizemy miniature heat exchangers as a means of directing the heat toward theframe of an automobile, for example, to internally placed metal trimcomponents, or as a sub-system comprising heat exchangers and/or heatsinks. I described these miniature heat exchangers more fully asevidence previously submitted to the Examiner in case 07/216,426, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,163,504 as devices capable of providing a means ofdirecting unwanted heat away from the structure which was coated withsuch material.

This novel cooling device <miniature heat exchanger> is more fullydescribed in my Lab Journal Notes which were previously provided to theExaminer as evidence in case Ser. No. 07/216,426, now U.S. Pat. No.5,163,504. Utilization of the heat exchangers in combination with theencapsulated MoS₂ is critical to the operability of the instantinvention. For, without combined use of the miniature heat exchangers,the instant invention becomes "hot" resulting in separation of thepolymer binder (paint) containing the MoS₂ from the surface to which ithas been applied, resulting in peeling, flaking and/or cracking of thematerial.

Removal of heat from surfaces is accomplished through use of elements ofthe copending "Container Warming and Cooling Device and Novel BuildingMaterial", Ser. No. 07/216,426 which has been cited a number of timesthroughout this petition.

I claim:
 1. A substance comprising a shell and, within the shell, asignal absorbing material, wherein said shell comprises a hollowmicrosphere and further wherein said signal absorbing material consistsessentially of molybdenum disulfide.
 2. The substance according to claim1 wherein said hollow microsphere is made of monomers.
 3. The substanceaccording to claim 1 wherein said substance is incorporated in a coatingof a device for attenuating electromagnetic waves to which said deviceis subjected.
 4. The substance claim 1 wherein said substance isincorporated in a coating of an electronic yielding device.
 5. Thesubstance according to claim 1 wherein said substance is incorporated ina coating of a camouflage device.
 6. The substance according to claim 1,said substance is incorporated in a coating of a device comprising acomposite material comprising structures; said materials and structurepossessing the ability to resonate or yield at frequencies in thevisible, IR, LIDAR, RADAR, SONAR, and DOPPLER frequencies.
 7. The shellof claim 1 containing a deuterated water.
 8. The shell of claim 1containing ammoniated water.
 9. The substance according to claim 1wherein said hollow microsphere is made of polymers.
 10. The substanceaccording to claim 1 wherein said hollow microsphere is made of UV-lightcurable material.
 11. A method of using a substance as claimed in claim1 comprising applying said substance to an object for reducingobservability of said object.
 12. The method of claim 11 where suchmethod enables application in the form of a singular layer.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 where such method enables application in multiplelayers.
 14. The method of claim 11 where such method enables applicationin the form of a matrix.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said step ofapplying said substance to an object is performed by spraying saidsubstance onto said object.